County historical society honored as Community Champion Award winner
The Butler County Historical Society was honored Wednesday as this year's Community Champion Award winner.
In 2003, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce began recognizing county organizations that impact the community through a cooperative project or initiative.
Under the leadership of J. Campbell Brandon in 1960, the historical society was established as an active organization.
As a charitable nonprofit, the historical society owns five properties in Butler County, consisting of 11 buildings and thousands of artifacts, including the largest collection in the county of documents, genealogical collections, artifacts and volumes pertaining to Butler County.
The historical society's mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the documents, artifacts and historical sites of Butler County's rich heritage for the educational benefit of the public.
Last year, the historical society gave Butler a facelift with the Butler Brush Up event, for which sign painters and mural artists from all over the world met in Butler July to paint murals in locations in downtown Butler.
Pat Collins, administrative director of the Butler County Historical Society, who was instrumental in getting the artists to come to Butler, said she was honored by the award.
“It's great to be honored this way. The murals are for the city and the area, and we hope everyone enjoyed the event,” Collins said.
The society is currently gathering the history on the subject of each mural, Collins said. Eventually, each mural will have a sponsor plaque, which will contain a QR code that will correspond with a website detailing the history of each one.
And a brochure, also in development, will list the murals and a short history of each one.
The Butler County Historical Society is the 15th winner of the chamber's Community Champion Award.
The award luncheon was held in Diamond Park in Butler, along with a summer concert by the Butler County Symphony Orchestra.
This year's award luncheon was sponsored by NexTier Bank, Kenmac Rentals and Sales and C.W. Howard Insurance Agency.
